Next 444 Project

[snocatpete]

Hi All
So this is where I am at. I was going to start this project early last fall but did not get started until my Christmas break from work!
I started by power washing everything to get the top layer of 50 year old grease, grime and dirt off of it. Next into the shop for a careful dismantling and preliminary inspection of all the parts. Then it was off to the welding shop where I repaired all cracks, filled in all the "after market drill holes" !! and
repaired all the sheet metal, repaired side screens and hood scoop screen which is usually damaged. I should mention I was going to just do one Hus ski but decided to do the other one at the same time. (twice as much fun!)

Also, at this time now I have also overhauled both engines, clutches, jack shaft, track sprockets (or as Hus ski calls them - front and rear wheel) and both axles are done too. The new skis are tripled coat varnished and new runners are painted and installed.

After all the welding and sheet metal has been hammer and dolly back straight again, I reassembled to check fit of all parts and now I have to disassemble it again and it is off to media blast to remove all the old paint and surface rust and temporary primer and then back to the paint booth for a nice new coat of epoxy primer and a final top coat of Tropicalia Yellow.

I will give an update when I get more done later this spring/summer.

[snocatpete]

this is the disassembly part

[snocatpete]

in the welding shop

[snocatpete]

engine overhaul

[snocatpete]

So this is all I have done so far. Next it is off to media blast and paint and then reassembly and electrical and I still have tracks to rebuild so will post as I get more done.

[BillNH]

Looking good.

[snocatpete]

hi Bruce - read your posting this morning and ironically I was just thinking of posting an update on my progress as I was working on the 444 just yesterday. It was such a beautiful day I spent the morning in the sandblasting yard and got all the parts for both 444s blasted. In the afternoon, I decided to get the parts primed in the outdoor spray booth lol. Next I have to prep the primer with the final sanding and a wipe down with reducer then I can go ahead and give the final top coat of Hus ski yellow and black. Then I will be on to building tracks and the final assembly.

[snocatpete]

some additional pictures of sandblasting and priming

[snocatpete]

Here are some updated photos. All the priming and painting is now done and it is time to start assembling then on to track building.

[snocatpete]

In these photos, I am repairing the ski seater tail light and polishing the headlight bezel, ready for installation.